Population response to the risk of vector-borne diseases: lessons learned from socio-behavioural research during large-scale outbreaks

Vector-borne infectious diseases, such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, and West Nile fevers are increasingly identified as major global human health threats in developing and developed countries. The success or failure of vector control rests mainly on the nature and scale of the behavioural response of exposed populations. Large-scale adoption of recommended protective behaviour represents a critical challenge that cannot be addressed without a better understanding of how individuals perceive and react to the risk of infection. Recently, French overseas territories faced large-scale outbreaks: an epidemic of chikungunya fever in La Re′ union and Mayotte (2005–2006) and four successive outbreaks of dengue fever in one Caribbean island, Martinique (1995–2007). To assess how these populations perceived and responded to the risk, and how the nature and scale of protection affected their clinical status, socio-epidemiological surveys were conducted on each island during the outbreaks. These surveys address three crucial and interconnected questions relevant to the period after persons infected by the virus were identified: which factors shape the risk of acquiring disease? Which socio- demographic characteristics and living conditions induce a higher likelihood of infection? What is the impact of risk perception on protective behaviours adopted against mosquito bites? Grounded on the results of these surveys, a general framework is proposed to help draw out the knowledge needed to reveal the factors associated with higher probability of infection as an outbreak emerges. The lessons learnt can inform health authorities’ efforts to improve risk communication programmes, both in terms of the target and content of messages, so as to explore new strategies for ensuring sustainable protective behaviour. The authors compare three epidemics of vector-borne diseases to elucidate psychosocial factors that determine how populations perceive and respond to the risk of infectious disease

La palatalisation des consonnes vélaires en breton et britto-roman

En matière de palatalisation, les consonnes vélaires forment un champ d’investigation homogène mais déjà complexe. L’exposé suivant ne vise pas à être exhaustif, mais à explorer quelques voies de recherche en écartant un certain nombre d’erreurs plus ou moins répandues. Il étudie les faits de palatalisation de trois séries distinctes : 1. celle des groupes consonantiques /rx/, /lx/ (avec étude du cas de /x/) ; 2. celle de /g-k/ et /gw-kw/ (et le cas particulier de /g>y/) ; 3. celle de /sk/ en /š/. Les conclusions de cette étude appellent à une critique des théories fondées sur la supposée palatalisation vannetaise, telle que la théorie du substrat gaulois.In terms of palatalization, velar consonants form a homogeneous but already complex field of investigation. The following presentation does not aim to be exhaustive, but to explore a few avenues of research by ruling out a certain number of more or less widespread errors. It studies the palatalization facts of three distinct series: 1. that of the consonantal groups /rx/, /lx/ (with a study of the case of /x/); 2. that of /g-k/ and /gw-kw/ (and the particular case of /g>y/); 3. that of /sk/ into /š/. The conclusions of this study call for a critique of theories based on the supposed Vannet palatalization, such as the Gallic substrate theory

Kohtuistungi kinniseks kuulutamine ärisaladuse kaitseks

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Europeans and Traditional Foods: Definition and Image from the Consumers' Perspective

This paper provides a consumer-driven definition of traditional food products (TFP) and investigates the image European consumers have about this food product category. Data were collected from representative consumer samples in six European countries, including Belgium, France, Italy, Norway, Poland and Spain, with a total sample size of 4,828 participants. European consumers define traditional foods as well-know products, products that one can eat very frequently, and products that were already eaten by grandparents. Although positive, association of TFP with naturalness and low processing is less pronounced. Sensory, health- and environment-related attribute perceptions contribute positively to the image of TFP, whereas perceived convenience, price, and availability contribute negatively to the TFP image. Finally, TFP are mainly pictured as foods that agree well with people who love national or regional cuisine, with people living in the countryside, equally so with men and women, though more so with families with children rather than singles or household without children. The empirical findings provide insights with particular relevance for TFP positioning, marketing communications around TFP and further development of the TFP market in Europe.Traditional food, Consumer, Europe, Demand and Price Analysis, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

La fonction énonciative

Le terme énonciatif est emprunté à la grammaire gasconne, alors qu’en grammaire bretonne nous sommes habitués au terme de particule verbale. C’est de la fonction de ces particules qu’il est ici question, et non pas de propositions énonciatives. On peut définir l’énonciatif comme un mot-outil qui a pour fonction d’introduire une forme verbale dans des conditions déterminées. Ainsi l’énonciatif gascon que se rencontre dans les mêmes conditions que la particule brittonique a : lo roment que madura = ar gwinizh a zarew [le froment mûrit] ; yo que tribalhi = me a labour [je travaille]. Suivent cet exposé deux réflexions sur les contributions de Michèle Noailly et Hervé Cadiou.The term enunciative is borrowed from Gascon grammar, whereas in Breton grammar we are used to the term verbal particle. It is the function of these particles that we are talking about here, and not enunciative propositions. The enunciative can be defined as a tool-word whose function is to introduce a verbal form under certain conditions. Thus, the Gascon enunciative que is found in the same conditions as the Brittonic particle a: lo roment que madura = ar gwinizh a zarew, ‘the wheat ripens’; yo que tribalhi = me a labour, ‘I work’. This presentation is followed by two reflections on the contributions of Michèle Noailly and Hervé Cadiou

Complement activated granulocytes can cause autologous tissue destruction in man

Activation of polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMNs) by C5a is thought to be important in the pathogenesis of multiple organ failure during sepsis and after trauma. In our experiment exposure of human PMNs to autologous zymosan activated plasma (ZAP) leads to a rapid increase in chemiluminescence. Heating the ZAP at 56°C for 30 min did not alter the changes, while untreated plasma induced only baseline activity. The respiratory burst could be completely abolished by decomplementation and preincubation with rabbit antihuman C5a antibodies. Observation of human omentum using electron microscopy showed intravascular aggregation of PMNs, with capillary thrombosis and diapedesis of the cells through endothelial junctions 90 s after exposure to ZAP. PMNs caused disruption of connections between the mesothelial cells. After 4 min the mesothelium was completely destroyed, and connective tissue and fat cells exposed. Native plasma and minimum essential medium did not induce any morphological changes. These data support the concept that C5a activated PMNs can cause endothelial and mesothelial damage in man. Even though a causal relationship between anaphylatoxins and organ failure cannot be proved by these experiments C5a seems to be an important mediator in the pathogenesis of changes induced by severe sepsis and trauma in man

La signalisation bilingue des noms de communes en Bretagne bretonnante

La manière d’écrire les noms bretons de paroisses a suivi les aléas des graphies en usage à l’époque ducale, puis à l’époque de la monarchie française. Les habitudes de la chancellerie y ont joué un rôle important. L’alphabet utilisé était dès le Moyen-Âge à base romane, suivant un usage breton qui évolua au 16e siècle et suivit ensuite de plus en plus l’usage français. Il n’y a donc pas eu de traitement graphique homogène des noms bretons. Puis se posa dans la pratique la question des panneaux de circulation bilingues. Pour résoudre ces problèmes, la Commission de Linguistique de l’Institut Culturel de Bretagne prenait l’initiative en 1986 de la création d’un groupe de travail sur les noms de lieux et les panneaux indicateurs sous le nom « Commission de Toponymie et de signalisation ».The way Breton parish names were written followed the vagaries of the spellings in use during the ducal period, and then during the French monarchy. The habits of the chancellery played an important role in this. From the Middle Ages onwards, the alphabet used was based on Romanesque, following a Breton usage which evolved in the 16th century and then increasingly followed French usage. There was therefore no homogeneous graphic treatment of Breton names. In practice, the question of bilingual traffic signs arose. In order to solve these problems, the Linguistics Commission of the Cultural Institute of Brittany took the initiative in 1986 to create a working group on place names and signposts under the name ‘Toponymy and Signposting Commission’

Influence de la texture microstructurale de superalliages de fonderie à base de nickel et à base de cobalt sur leur comportement en oxydation à haute température

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